The Role of Family in Taking Action on Drug Abuse The purpose of this piece of writing is not to compare the different methods of approaching drug prevention, or say what methods are not working. It is to simply state that the more the family takes action or gets involved with each others live, problems such as drug abuse will become obsolete. Many different attempts to lower the drug rate have been in placed by society. But despite years of anti drug campaigns within the school and media, drug abuse amongst teenagers in society continues to rise. At home drug testing and emphasis on anti drugs within the family will prove to lower the use of illegal drugs amongst teens. More and more teenagers are experimenting with illegal drugs in today's society. A 1996-1997 PRIDE survey of more than 140 000 teens showed that drug abuse amongst eleven to fourteen year Olds is rising. 11.4% of jr. high students monthly use marijuana, cocaine and other illicit drugs. The number of new heroin cases involving the youth increased by 53%. A study done at the University of Columbia has found that drugs are more readily available and used by the youth. Other surveys have found that drug abuse by high school seniors jumped 27% in 1993, 20% in 1994 and another 9% in 1995. At the age of twelve to seventeen, 2.9 million teens have used marijuana, compared to 1.4 million the past year. As if these statistics were not shocking enough, I found that in 1996 24% of eighth graders, 21 to 38% of tenth graders, and 29 to 40% of twelfth graders have been using marijuana. The fact that these problems exist makes one think what is being done to protect today's adolescents from a life of drug abuse. Despite these facts, there are programs in pla... ... middle of paper ... ...ho stated they spend time as a family more than seven times a week, all stated that they have never used drugs. While the students who didn't spend time with there families used drugs more than one time a month. The results of my survey that I received were exactly as I anticipated. Statistics and every day examples have proven to show that parental evolvement can reduce the use of drugs. Although social organizations, including educational facilities, have stressed anti drug us, statistics have shown that in order to reduce the drug use rate, the family must get involved. Time must be spent as a family in order to bond. Families play an important role in today's society. Children may not seem like they do, but they listen to their parents, they respect them. In order to solve the drug problem, we must first solve the problem of teenagers and broken homes.
Drugs are not only a problem for older generations, but often times those in younger generations become involved in the drug trade as well. According to Anderson (1990), “Children who become deeply engaged in t...
However, for those who did not get the privilege to experience a good environment growing up due to drug addicted parents and guardians should not lose hope. Such is also the case of adolescents who were introduced to drug abuse and feel hopeless in life. Programs such as the Adolescents Substance Use Disorders Services Program, aim to ensure hope and quality life for every broken child and adolescent. If left unattended and ignored, this children could end up on the wrong side of the law hence spend their adult life behind bars or far must worse remain unproductive all through their lives. It would be hazardous to ignore these children hence the urge to ensure all government officials in every state and the world at large to participate in a program that would not only increase the number of healthy adolescents but also the number of reliable adults in future. Drug addiction and abuse are cases that have brought down the economy of many countries all over the world due to unproductive adults who are deep into the act hence the need for it to be
Substance abuse is a rapidly growing issue in today’s society. Drug addictions hinder and restrain people from everyday life events, dreams, accomplishments, and the relationships they have with friends and family members. A common reoccurring problem related to substance abuse is the issue of peer influence and peer pressure on trying and using drugs, which can vary from alcohol, tobacco and even the use of prescription drugs. The negative influences of peer pressure may promote drug use which can further lead to an addictive behaviour, not just to one drug, but to a multiple combination of drugs. Both social and economic factors, lead to substance abuse and many negative issues such as losing your job, friends, family and your purpose in life, these are all potential issues that may occur if ones addiction is not dealt with in time. Therefore, preventive measures need to be taken in order to address substance abuse and to prevent future generations from falling prey to the circulating drugs present in our society today. This paper will determine how the social and economic influences puts adolescents at a risk for developing an addiction to substances, it will also develop possible solutions and strategies in order to prevent addictive behaviours from forming, as well as strategies that can possibly address and prevent drug problems in Canada. Drug problems need to be resolved and addressed now, before they continue to further create negative factors for the people in Canadian society.
Years ago, the common image of an adolescent drug abuser was a teen trying to escape from reality on illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. Today, there is a great discrepancy between that perception and the reality of who is likely to abuse drugs. A teenage drug abuser might not have to look any further than his or her parent’s medicine chest to ‘score.’ Prescription drug abuse by teens is on the rise. Also, teens are looking to prescription drugs to fulfill different needs other than to feel good or escape the pressures of adulthood. Teens may be just as likely to resort to drugs with ‘speedy’ side effects, like Ritalin to help them study longer, as they are to use prescription painkillers to check out of reality. Pressures on teens are growing, to succeed in sports or to get high grades to get into a good college (Pressures on today’s teens, 2008, theantidrug). Furthermore, because prescriptions drugs are prescribed by doctors they are less likely to be seen as deleterious to teens’ health. A lack of awareness of the problem on the part of teens, parents and society in general, the over-medication of America, and the greater stresses and pressures put upon teens in the modern world have all conspired to create the growing problem of prescription drug abuse by teens.
About one out of five 10th graders and about 1 out of four high school seniors used marijuana in the past month (Facts for Teens, 1). It is the second most popular drug among teens in the US (Encarta, 1). Teens, ages 12-17, that use marijuana weekly are nine times more likely than non-users to experience with illegal drugs and alcohol (Fed. Study, 1). More 13 & 14 year olds are using drugs, fifteen pe...
Parent(s) should be able to provide a stable and loving environment for their children to grow up in, unfortunately, for drug addicted parents this feat seems impossible. Addicts must satisfy their own needs over anything else (Street, Whitlingum, Gibson, Cairns, and Ellis 2011). The high cost of drugs and their bizarre side effects cause rocky, unpredictable daily lives for the children of these addicts. Estimates show “…6 million children live with a parent who abuses alcohol or other drugs” (Taylor 2011). Children that reside with substance abusing parents enter into a perpetual cycle of physical abuse, neglect and emotional trauma. Numerous children raise themselves and/or their siblings because their parent(s) are either too drugged up to tend to their needs or are not home at ...
Drugs cause an overall disturbance in a subjects’ physiological, psychological and emotional health. “At the individual level, drug abuse creates health hazards for the user, affecting the educational and general development of youths in particular” (“Fresh Challenge”). In youth specifically, drug abuse can be triggered by factors such as: a parent’s abusive behavior, poor social skills, family history of alcoholism or substance abuse, the divorce of parents or guardians, poverty, the death of a loved one, or even because they are being bullied at school (“Drugs, brains, and behavior”) .
The drug control policy of the United States has always been a subject of debate. From Prohibition in the early 1930’s to the current debate over the legalization of marijuana, drugs have always been near the top of the government’s agenda. Drug use affects every part of our society. It strains our economy, our healthcare, our criminal justice systems, and it endangers the futures of young people. In order to support a public health approach to drug control, the Obama administration has committed over $10 billion to drug education programs and support for expanding access to drug treatment for addicts (Office). The United States should commit more government resources to protect against illegal use of drugs by youths and provide help for recovering addicts.
Most people do not understand how a person become addicted to drugs. We tend to assume that is more an individual problem rather than a social problem. However, teen substance abuse is indeed a social problem considered a priority for the USA department of public health due to 9 out of 10 Americans with addictions started using drugs before the age 18 (CASA Columbia University). Similarly, 1 in 4 Americans with addictions started using the substance during their teenage years, which show a significant different with 1 in 25 Americans with addiction who started using at 21 or older (CASA, 2011).
The use of drugs and mind-alternating substances has been a part of society for decades. The ‘high’ that people attain from the use of such substances is very attractive and exciting however, the effects of this use are minimized. Particularly for youth, a group of individuals who are seeking independence and experimentation, drug use represents the balance between taking risks and taking responsibility for one’s actions. However, the developmental processes of adolescents are known to not encompass the maturity required to fully think through such decisions. As such, the use of a ‘smaller-scale’ drug like marijuana is even more minimized. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what the risks of using marijuana are for youths, why they are the most affected, how this problem has progressed over the last three decades, and what preventative measures and treatment options are in place. It will also discuss what schools, parents, and government agencies could be doing to help improve the issue, and the impact that this issue is having on society.
It has been discovered that most people who struggle with drug addiction began experimenting with drugs in their teens. Teenage drug abuse is one of the largest problems in society today and the problem grows and larger every year. Drugs are a pervasive force in our culture today. To expect kids not to be influenced by the culture of their time is as unrealistic as believing in the tooth fairy (Bauman 140). Teens may feel pressured by their friends to try drugs, they may have easy access to drugs, they may use drugs to rebel against their family or society, or they may take an illegal drug because they are curious about it or the pleasure that it gives them.
When one member of a family is involve in the misuse of drugs, the whole family is affect irrespective of whether the drug abuser is a senior or junior. As a result, the relationship between family members is affected negatively; therefore, the family may end up being dysfunctional (Barnard, 2007).
The survey we conducted showed that most people believed it was more common for youths in the 14 to 22 age group to use recreational drugs. This was closely followed by the 23 to 30 age group, while the 13 and under age group was considerably further behind. The survey question that followed indicated that people also believed that drug users were irresponsible and inconsiderate. This slightly supports the misconception that teens are more likely to be involved with recreational drugs.
Certain drugs can be injected via a syringe or needle, smoked, ingested through the nasal cavity, and even laced into certain foods and eaten. Unfortunately, in certain areas, drugs can be very easily obtained in an unsafe environment. Usually, drugs affect teenagers the most who are in their high school and college years. It is reported that teenagers can get their hands on narcotics at a myriad of places in their daily lives. They can be found: In the medicine cabinet, at home, at a neighbor’s house, online, a friend, at schools, and at parties. Nowadays, with rapid advancement in drug development, kids as young as 16 can cook and grow their own drugs in their homes. Neglect of strict attention or drug awareness among parents can result in teenagers buying or selling drugs routinely in their
Another problem is use of illegal drugs by teenagers and young adults. As usage of drugs such as ecstasy and marijuana become more popular on "underground" scenes, people seem to find it acceptable to engage in casual drug use. Many young people do not realize the harmful effects of these substances until it is too late. The lives of America's y...